KOSTER, SOUTH AFRICA - MARCH 11: Dean Burmester during day 3 of the 2016 Investec Cup at Millvale Private Retreat on March 11, 2016 in Koster, South Africa. EDITOR'S NOTE: For free editorial use. Not available for sale. No commercial usage. (Photo by Petri Oeschger/Sunshine Tour/Gallo Images)

Published on October 4, 2016

It doesn’t get much more tantalising for a professional golfer than to play against Ryder Cup heroes at the home of golf, and Dean Burmester will get that chance.

This week the South African tees up in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, a jewel on the European Tour schedule that has the professionals play at Carnoustie, Kingsbarns, and The Old Course at St. Andrews.

The star-studded field includes Ryder Cup hero Thomas Pieters, who won four points for Team Europe in his debut at Hazeltine National Golf Club. Also in the mix are Rafa Cabrera-Bello, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Danny Willett, Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer.

The tournament is sponsored by South African Johann Rupert’s Dunhill brand and there are a wealth of rainbow nation players in the field.

Brandon Grace and Louis Oosthuizen are the headline acts, joined by Trevor Fisher, George Coetzee, Tjaart van der Walt, and 16 others.

Justin Walters and Erik van Rooyen made the most of their trips to the Home of Golf, each snapping photos on the Swilken Bridge ahead of the tournament.

Burmester, now in his sixth year as a professional, has six victories on the Sunshine Tour and is busy trying to break onto the European circuit.

His length off the tee is a huge bonus, but it will take a deft touch to contend on the links setups this week. In 2015 Thorbjorn Olesen, also renowned for his big hitting, won the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

That’s good news for Burmester, who’ll be looking to take home a big chunk of the $5-million on offer.